US Dominates Automotive Aftermarket in North America

March 1 2017

The freedonia Group

The US dominates the North American automotive aftermarket for powertrain components, accounting for 86% of overall sales, or $10.3 billion, in 2016. Through 2021, US aftermarket demand for engine, transmission, and drivetrain components will rise 1.6% per year, a slight uptick from the 2011-2016 period but trailing advances in the smaller Canadian and Mexican markets. These and other trends are presented in Automotive Aftermarket in Powertrain Components in North America, a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Factors promoting aftermarket sales of powertrain components in the US include:

increases in the size and the average age of the light vehicle park, the latter of which stood at 11.4 years in 2016

climatic extremes, including snow in some regions and heat in others

technological improvements, such as the incorporation of computers and sensors, that raise the average per-unit cost of repairs and replacements

growth in the total number of light vehicles involved in accidents

Sales growth will be restrained by:

technological improvements that reduce the frequency of maintenance and replacement intervals

increased reliability and durability of many powertrain components

Automotive Aftermarket for Powertrain Components in North America (published 03/2017, 127 pages) is available for $4900 from The Freedonia Group. For further details or to arrange an interview with the analyst, please contact Corinne Gangloff by phone 440.684.9600 or email pr@freedoniagroup.com.